Heavy rain is expected in the area beginning Thursday, but the first drops of precipitation could come as early as Wednesday.

John Pike, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma, said a 20-percent chance of rain enters the forecast Wednesday evening and night. But, the better chances begin Thursday.

"(Chances) increase more going into Thursday; nearly a 70-percent chance on Thursday," he said. "It pretty much sticks around through Friday and it's not really out of the picture, at least now, until it looks like probably late Monday."

Thursday and Friday, he said, are the two days during this weather event that have the biggest opportunities. The area is expected to see 2.5 to 3 inches of rain. Some flooding could occur with the heavy rains, but most likely in areas most prone to flooding.

No severe weather is expected, Pike said, but he said he can't rule out the possibility of hail or high winds Thursday and Friday.

"Right now it just looks like a lot of heavy rain," he said, particularly south of Interstate 40.

Pike said the weather system will sweep across the western portion of the United States to the east. He said the event moving through North Texas and Southern Oklahoma will come up from the southwest.

The high temperature Wednesday is expected to be in the upper 80s and then dip down to the low 80s on Thursday. The upper 80s will return Friday and Saturday shows temperatures in the low 90s.